Shoulder firearm having separate projectile and powder magazines



July 8, 1958 E. R. MICHELSON SHOULDER FIREARM HAVING SEPARATE PROJECTILEAND POWDER MAGAZINES 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 7, 1954 INVENTOR.

EDWIN R. MICHELSON E. R. MICHELSON SHOULDER FIREARM HAVING SEPARATE July8, 1958 PROJECTILE AND POWDER MAGAZINES 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 7,1954 y 1958 E. R. MICHELSON 2,841,906

SHOULDER FIREARM HAVING SEPARATE PROJECTILE AND POWDER MAGAZINES FiledJune 7, 1954 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG. 5. A?

IN VEN TOR.

EDWIN R. MICHELSON July 1958 r E. R. MICHELSON 2,841,906

SHOULDER FIREARM HAVING SEPARATE PROJECTILE AND POWDER MAGAZINES FiledJune '7, 1954 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 E. R. MICHELSON SHOULDER FIREARM HAVINGSEPARATE July 8, 1958 2,841,906 I PROJECTILE AND POWDER MAGAZINES 6Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 7, 1954 y 3, 1958 E. R. MICHELSON 2,841,906

SHOULDER FIREARM HAVING SEPARATE PROJECTILE AND POWDER MAGAZINES FiledJune 7, 1954 .6 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR.

Eowm R. MICHELSON 197 f OH/VE l tent SHOULDER FIREARM HAVING SEPARATEPRO- .l'ECTllLE AND POWDER MAGAZINES This invention relates in generalto certain new and useful improvements in firearms and, moreparticularly,

to a sportsmans gun which can be readily adapted for various types ofhunting needs.

At the present time, the average sportsman needs a variety of difierentguns for dilferent types of shooting. It is usual practice to employ agun of small caliber in hunting light game since a large caliberhigh-velocity missile would damage the game. On the other hand, for verylarge animals, it is essential to use a gun of large caliber in order tomake a kill. The average hunter will, therefore, find it necessary toinvest in a number of different guns involving a very substantialexpense, both in the weapons themselves and in the purchase of variousdifferent types of ammunition required by them. Actually, the caliber ofthe gun is less important than the size of the powder charge used as apropellent for the bullet or missile. This latter factor determinesmuzzle velocity, which, in turn, is the most significant factor in thestriking power of the missile. For this reason, manufacturers ofammunition supply cartridges having different powder charges and thisvariant complicates, rather than simplifies, the problem of the hunterin meeting all the needs of the sport.

It is, therefore, the primary object of the present invention to providea gun capable of firing a projectile with a primer in its base and usingloose powder as a propellent, thereby obviating the need for ejectingspent cartridge shells. p

it is also an object of the present invention to provide a gun of thetype stated in which the quantity of propellent used can be varied toafford different muzzle velocity and killing power.

it is a further object of the present invention to provide a gun of thetype stated in which the projectile and propellent are automatically fedinto the chamber in proper relation for firing.

it is another object of the present invention to provide a gun of thetype stated which is relatively light in weight due to the fact that thestresses absorbed by the breech bolt in firingare not transmitted to thereceiver, thus obviating the need for a massive highly stressedreceiver.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a gun of thetype stated which is relatively economical in cost of manufacture due tothe utilization of a simple cam and cam-like principle for locking ofthe breech bolt.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a gun of thetype stated which is economical in use by reason of the fact that theammunition employed therein can be manufactured economically and at lowcost. 1 t

It is another object of this invention to provide a gun which has amechanism capable of generating a high which can be atmosphericallysealed, if necessary, due

to the absence of ejection ports.

With the above and other objects in view, my invention resides in thenovel features of form, construction, arrangement, and combination ofparts presently described and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings- Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a gunconstructed in accordance with and embodying the present invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the gun barrel with various portionsof the mechanism removed in order to illustrate more clearly the spatialrelationship of the various components;

Figure 3 is a front elevational view of the gun;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of the gun taken along line 4-4of Figure 3, showing the action of the gun in loaded and cocked positionready for firing.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view substantially similar to Figure4, showing the position of the action of the gun after the gun has beenfired;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view substantially similar to Figure4, showing the action of the gun as the fore-end is shifted to unlockedposition in the course of reloading and cocking; t

Figure 7 is a fragmentary sectional view substantially similar to Figure4, showing the action of the gun at the instant of initial engagementwith the powder-feeding mechanism during reloading; r

Figure 8 is a fragmentary sectional view substantially similar to Figure4, showing the action of the gun at the instant of initial engagementwith the bullet-magazine release during reloading;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary sectional view substantially similar to Figure4, showing the action of the gun as the fore-end has been shifted torearwardmost position;

, Figures l0, 11, 12, and 13 are transverse sectional views taken alonglines 10-10, 11-11, 12-12,. and 13-13, respectively, of Figure 4;

Figure 14 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 14-14 ofFigure 4 and showing the bolt and firing pin mechanism in cockedposition ready for firing;

Figure 15 is a fragmentary sectional view substantially similar toFigure 14, showing the positionsof the bolt at instant of firing andimmediately thereafter;

Figure 16 is a fragmentary sectional view substantially similar toFigure 14, showing the position of the bolt after firing action has beencompleted;

Figure 17 is a fragmentary sectional view substantially similar toFigure 14, showing the position. of the gun bolt when the fore-end is inrearwardmost position as the gun is being reloaded and cocked;

Figure 18 is a transverse sectional view taken along line 18-18 ofFigure 1;

Figure 19 is a schematic fragmentary perspective view of the firing-lockactuator;

Figures 20, 21, and 22 are fragmentary sectional views taken along lines20-20, 2l-2ll, and 22-22, respectively, of Figure 14;

Figure 23 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 23-23 ofFigure 20; r

Figures 24 and 25 are fragmentary sectional views taken along lines24-24 and 25-25, respectively, of Figure 21; i g

Figure 26 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 26-26 ofFigure 12;

Figure 27 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 27-27 ofFigure 4;

Figure 28. is a schematic perspective view of the pow der-feeding pistonand related structure;

Patented July 8, 1958 comprising a barrel 1 forged or otherwise suitablyformed 7 from gun steel and integrally including a muzzle portion 2, anintermediate portion 3, and a chamber portion 4, and a relatively longbreech portion 5. As will be seen by reference to'Figure 2, the muzzleportion 2 is tubular and at its rearward end tapers into theintermediate portion 3, and is eccentric with relation thereto and isprovided with two laterally projecting longitudinal ribs 6 for slidablyreceiving a wooden fore-end 7. At its rearward end, the intermediateportion 3 merges into the chamber portion 4 which is substantiallyrectilinear in cross-sectional shape and is' also tangent along itsupper surface to the upper surfaces of the muzzle portion 2' andintermediate portion 3 so that a smooth, uninterrupted line of sight foraiming purposes is thereby afforded down the gun barrel between the rearsight 8 and front sight 9. It will be understood in this connection thatthe muzzle portion 2, the intermediate portion 3 and chamber portion 4are provided with a common coaxial bore 10 which extends rearwardly fromthe muzzle portion 2 through the intermediate portion 3 and into thechamber portion 4 being therein diametrally enlarged along a taper 11 toform a chamber 12, which in turnextends rearwardly through the remainderof the chamber portion 4 and terminates in a very slight rearwardlytapered shoulder or annular seat 13. Extending rearwardly from theshoulder 13 in coaxial alignment with the bore 10 and chamber 12 is abreech-bore 14 which extends longitudinally through the breech portionand terminates in a short diametrally enlarged internally threadedsection 15 adapted for receiving a flat externally threaded closure plug16. Formed integrally with and extending rearwardly from the breechportion 5 are two spaced parallel ears 17, 18, respectively havingaligned apertures 19, 21). The aperture20 is somewhat smaller than theaperture 19 and is internally threaded for receiving the threaded end ofa stock-retaining screw 21 having an enlarged head 22 forsnug-fittingseated disposition within the aperture 19. Providedforsnug-fitting retentive engagement between the ears 17, 18 is a woodengun stock 23 apertured at its forward end for receiving the screw 21 andbeing provided on its under face with a scoop-shaped indentation 24,as-best seen in Figures 1 and S and for purposes presently more'fullyappearing.

The opposite vertical side walls of the breech portion 5 are providedwith elongated breech-bolt slots 25 which are transversely aligned andare of such length and locationthat the forward ends thereof are spacedrearwardly of the shoulder 13. 'Adjacent their rearward ends the sidewalls of the breech portion 5 are provided with laterallyopeningrectangular recesses 26 having flush fitting closure plates 27secured snugly thereacross by means of short screws 28 and therebyproviding a completely enclosed elongated slide-chamber 29'which opensto the interior of the breech-bore 14 through elongated slots 30. Theunder side of the forwardly presented end face of the chamber portion 4is provided with an arcuate transversely extending recess 31 and thechamber portion 4 and'breech portion 5 are longitudinally drilled justinwardly of their lateral faces to provide two parallel tubular bores 32opening at'their opposite ends respec tively into the chambers 29 andrecess 31 for slidably accommodating elongated locking rods 33.

The bore is of substantially uniform, internal diam- 4 etral size and isprovided with internal rifling grooves 34 rearwardly for most of itsentire length. However, ashort distance forwardly from the chamber 12,the bore 10 is diametrally enlarged very slightly along an almostimperceptible taper for a distance substantially equal to the bodyportion of the bullet or projectile B which is designed for use with thegun A, as will be presently more fully discussed. This slightly enlargedunrifled or bullet seating portion of the bore 10 is intended to retainthe bullet B snugly when the gun is loaded and ready for firing andthereby provide a forward seal for the chamber 12 so that the energydeveloped at the instant of detonation will be efficiently convertedinto propelling force impinging upon the rearwardly presented end .ofthe bullet B and imparting thereto the required forward velocity. Itwill be noted that the bullet does not include any jacket or shellcontaining a powder charge but is merely provided in its rearwardlypresented end with a centrally disposed impact-firing detonating cap 35.

The top wall of the breech portion 5 directly to the rear of theshoulder 13 is'provided with a clean outaperture 36 having a hingedcover plate 37 which is spring biased downwardly into closed positionand 'is conventionally mounted on a hinge block 38.

recess 39 for rigidly received a longitudinally extending tubular powdermagazine 40 which is internally threaded adjacent its rearward end, asat 41, for receiving a removable filling plug 42. Slidably mountedwithin the powder magazine 40 is a powdenfeeding piston 43 isoperatively engaged around the forward end of a spring 44,

which is, in" turn, abuttingly fitted atits rearward end againstthe'interior face of the plug. 42. At its forwardf end, the powdermagazine 40 is cut off obliquely and opens into a rearwardly anddownwardly extending tubular powder-feeding cylinder 45 whichextendsupwardly and is rigidly mounted at an oblique angle in the lowerforward part of the breech portion 5 in such a manner.

as to open into thebreech-bore 14'rearwardly of the shoulder 13. Thepowder magazine 40 and powderfeeding cylinder 45 are preferably, thoughnot necessarily,

of the same diametral size. At its lower end, the powderfeeding cylinder'45 is internally threaded for receiving a suitably threaded closureplug 46 having an inwardly presented interior face 47; Operativelymounted within the cylinder 45 is an open-bottomed hollowpowderfeedingpiston48 having an upwardly presented arcuately dished end face 49adapted to conform to a section of V the interior surface of thebreech-bore 14. The rearcylinder 45 and opening at their lower ends tothe; bottom 7 margin of the powder-feeding cylinder 45, so that,.when

the closure plug-46 is removed,'the piston 4s, gate 51, and associatedstructure may be inserted into the cylinder 45 from the bottom. 7 Attheir outer ends, thepins 52 and '53 are welded or otherwise rigidlymounted adjacent the bottom portions ofcompanion-shaped flat slideplates V 55, 56, respectively, the latter being, in turn, providedadjacent their'upper ends with outwardly projecting pins 57,58,respectively. As will be seen by reference to Figthe 29,- the pins 57,58, are parallel to each other and to the center line of the pins 52,53. Furthermore, the flat plates 55, 56, are contoured to fit snuglyagainst the outer v face of the powder-fe eding cylinder 45 in overlyingreletion'to the slots 54 and are operatively confined forslich' Irespecable movement betweenways 59, 59, 60, 60', tively; asbest seen. inFigures 2 and 18,

On its under face the breech portion 5 is provided with an elongatedarcuate:

The rearwardly. presented face of the piston 48 is pro vided with anelongated slot 61 which is positioned centrally of, and underlies, thegate 51 for slidably accommodating a tongue 62 which projects radiallyinto the hollow interior of the powder-feeding piston 46' and bearsagainst an elongated compression spring 63 which extends lengthwisedownwardly through the powder-feeding cylinder 45 and abuts at its lowerend against the inner face of the closure plug 46. Also operativelymounted within the powder-feeding cylinder 45 in forwardly spacedparallel relation to the spring 63 is a second spring 64 which bears atits upper end against the under face of the top wall of thepowder-feeding piston 48 and at its lower end against the inner face ofthe closure plug 46.

Rigidly mounted at its lower end centrally within the closure plug 46and extending axially upwardly through the powder-feeding cylinder 45 isa rod 65 which terminates at its upper end below the lowest point ofmovement of the tongue 62 so as to avoid any interference therewith.This rod 65 functions as a separating element between the two springs63, 64, so that the latter will function independently and willnotinterfere with each other.

Rigidly joined to the downwardly presented inclined face of thepowder-feeding cylinder 45 and forming a part thereof is a substantiallysmaller tubular bulletmagazine 66 also mounted at its upper end, at anoblique angle, in the breech portion 45 and opening into the breech-bore14 between the powder-feeding cylinder is and the shoulder 13. At itslower end, the bullet-n1agazine 66 is internally threaded for receivinga closure plug.

67. Operatively mounted within the bullet-magazine 66 is an elongatedcompression spring 68 which bears at its upwardly toward the chamber,12. Welded or otherwise suitably mounted. upon the outer face of thebulletmagazine 66 adjacent its upper end is a pivot block 69 havingdownwardly presented spaced parallel ears 7t) for receiving a pivotpin.71. Rockably mounted upon the pivot 71,is a bifurcated arm 72 whichis operatively engaged withthe downwardly projecting end of abulletretention pin 73 shiftably mounted in and extending through theupper end of the pivot block 69 and projecting at its inner end: intothe upper end of the bulletmagazine 66 for engagement with the upper endof the uppermost bullet B, as best seen in Figure 4. The pin 73 isbiased toward inwardly disposed or bullet-engaging position by means ofa tension spring 74. Also pivotally mounted on the pin 71 between thelower ends of the bifurcated arm 72 is an actuating arm 75 havingrelatively wide laterally projecting ears 76. The arm 75 is integrallyprovided with an upwardly extending finger 77 which normally bearsagainst a stop pin 78 rigidly mounted in the bifurcated arm 72, the arm75 being resiliently held in such position by means of a tension spring79. Thus, when the actuating arm 75 is swung rearwardly in the directionindicated by the arrow in '75 is free to swing forwardly (i. e. to therightin Figure- 26) without affecting the position'of the pinj73, andbifurcated arm 72. It will be noted, by reference to Figure 26, that thepivot block 69 is provided with a semicircular milled slot 80 merelyioafford clearance'for the upper end of the finger 77 of the actuating arm75.

Slidably mounted Within the breech-bore 14 is a tubular breech-bolt 81which is diametrally turned at its forward end to form a short taperedshoulder 82 adapted 6 for tight-fitting seated engagement against theshoulder or annular seat 13. Forwardly of the shoulder 82, thebreech-bolt 81 is internally counter-bored to provide. a scavengingskirt 83 having a series of narrow axial slots 84, so that the outerperipheral margin 85 of the skirt 83 will at all times be in resilientscraping engagement with the inner surface of the chamber 12. Formedintegrally with, and projecting axially forwardly from, the breechbolt81, is a tapered bullet-feeding finger 86 having four thin arcuate wings87 arranged at ninety-degree intervals therearound for picking up andpropelling the bullet B into firing position without contacting thedetonating cap 35. Directly to the rear of the scavenging skirt 83, the

breech-bolt 81 is provided with a solid body section 68,

which, in common with the finger 86, is axially bored for slidablyaccommodating a firing pin 89 having a pointed end 90 for contacting thedetonating cap 35 and being integrally provided on its rearward end witha diametrally enlarged button-like head 91. interposed between the head91 and the rearwardly presented face of the body section 88 is a lightcompression spring 92 for normally biasing the firing pin 89 into therearward position shown in Figure 14.

Rearwardly of the body section 88, the breech-bolt 81 is internallybored to provide a hammer chamber 93 provided adjacent its rearward endwith an inwardly projecting narrow annular flange 94. The hammer chamber93 is furthermore provided at its bottom with an axial slot 95 forclearing a cocking lug 95 held in place by screws s, as shown in Figure22. The breech-portion 5 is drilled and tapped in upwardly spacedalignment with the cocking lug 95 for receiving a threaded plug p tofacilitate installation of the cocking lug 95. At points ninety degreesupwardly on either side of the center line of the slot 95, the hammerchamber 93 is provided on its interior wall with detent notches 96.Slidably mounted within the hammer chamber 93 is a tubular hammer 97provided in' its forwardly presented end face with a concentric circularrecess 98 for loosely engaging the head 91 of the firing pin 89. On itsrearwardly presented face, the hammer 97 is provided with an annularconcentric recess 99 and an integrally formed rearwardly extending axialbolt pin 100 having an integrally formed annular collar 101 and. adiametrically enlarged cylindrical head 102. Slidably mounted Within thehammer chamber 93 and also extending loosely and slidably around thebolt pin 100 is a compressor 103 provided in its forwardly presented endface with a cylindrical recess 104 having substantially thesamediametral size as the largest diametral dimension of the recess 99.Operatively mounted within the recesses 99 and 104 and extendingco-axially around the bolt pin 100 is a relatively strong firing spring105. The compressor 103 is provided in its rearwardly presented facewith a pair of diametrally opposite slot-like recesses 106 for pivotallyaccommodating latch-dogs 107 which are biased to the position shown inFigure 14 by springs 108 for engagement in the detent notches 96. Thelatch-dogs 107 are provided at their inner ends with rearwardlypresented abutment shoulders 109 positioned for operative engagementwith the collar 101 of the bolt pin 100, as will presently be more fullyexplained. Interposed between the head 102 of the bolt pin 100 and theinternal annular flange 94 of the breech-portion 81 is a conicalretraction spring 110. It should be noted in this connection that thefiring spring is much stronger than the'retraction spring 110 and thetwo springs will thus perform their respective functions withoutinterference with each other.

At about thirty degrees arcuately-around, and downwardly from, the planeof the latch-dogs 107, the hammer 97 is provided with a diametral recessl ll having a reduced end portion 112 for housing a light-weightcompression spring .113 which bears against a pin-like sear 7 114-having an end face 115 conforming to the outer curvilinear surface ofthe hammer chamber 93.. The

z the closure plates 27.

end face 115 ofthe sear 114 bears against a supplementary sear-pin 11.4,which is, in eifect, a longitudinal extension of; the sear 114 and isprovided at its outer end segment 122 of a trigger-actuating arm'123rigidly pinned to a trigger pintle 124, which is, in turn',rotatablymounted in, and projects laterally-outwardly from, the breechportion 5.Disposed within the forward end of the bore 120 and bearing against theforward end of the trigger pin 119 is a compression spring 125 forbiasing the trigger pin rearwardly. At its outer end, the'trigger pintle125 is rigidly pinned to one portion of a two-part split trigger yoke126,- The other portion of the'trigger yoke 126 is pivotally mounted atits upper end upon a stud 127 also 'mounted in, and projecting outwardlyfrom, the

breech-portion in axial alignment with the trigger" pintle 124. The twoparts of the trigger yoke 126 are held together in assembled relation bya fastening screw, 123 to forma dep'ending trigger 129, all as best seenin Figure 13. p V

The rectangular recesses 26 are provided with front 7 and rear end walls130, 131, and with flat back walls 132' which 'are spaced inwardly fromand parallel to Slidably mounted within each recess '26 is a block 133rigidly fixed, as by means of a set-screw 134,- to the rear endof thelocking rods 33. Extending transversely across the-breech-bore 14 is across-bar havingrodJ-ike arms 136 and a central I flattened section 137adaptedfor abutn out against the At its rear face of the headiQZ- of thebolt-pin 159. opposite ends, the cross-bar .135 extends loosely throughthe slots-tlitl-and is rigidly fastened by means ofset-sorews135i-n'the'upper ends of the blocks 135, all as best seen in Figure 19Disposed endwise between the rear face or the flattened section 137 ofthe cross-bar 1-35 and the opposed interior face 139 of the closure plug'16 is a compression spring Mitfor biasing the locking rodsSZvforwardly, a I

The body portion 88 of the breech-bolt 31 is provided in its lateralfaces with; shallow recesses 141 having centra'lly located drilled andtapped holes 1 32. Set snugly, but reinovably, within each of therecesses 14-1 and projecting' laterally outwardly therefrom through thebreech slots ZSerebreech-bolt studs 143 having flattened top and bottomfacesqfor slide forming disposition within the hre'echslotsZS. lnthisconnection, it may be pointed out thatthe breech-bolt studs 1-33 arerelatively wide in the direction of the slots in order to providesufrlcient strength to hold the breech-bolt 31 seated against theshoulder 13 when the powder-charge is exploded within the chamber 12. The force involved at the instant of explosion is'of the order of 50,000p. s. i. Rotatably mounted on the projecting ends of the breech-boltstuds 143 are spacing washers 14 bolt-actuating slide-plates 145,,andcap-washers 1462111 held securely in place by retainer bolts 147, asbest seen in Figure 14.

The slide-plates 145 extend singularly downwardly and forwardly alongthe opposite side faces of the chamber portion 4 and at their forwardends are cross-connected locking rods 33 when thegun is cocked and readyto fire. Thusgit is impossible to Work the gun action again 1 45 on topof the piston 48. However, asrthe slide-plates i until the gun has beenfired. Rigidly attached tojth'e f V lock-bar 1A8 is a forwardlyextending intermediate'link 150 pivotally connected at its forward endtoa. pair of main actuating links 151, which are, inturn pivotallyconnected to the fore-end 7. The intermediate link .150 is provided withlaterally projecting stop-pins 152 for engaging the actuating links 151when the fore-end isslid rearwardly and the links 150, 151, arebroughtintoz the relative angular position shown in Figure 6; Sirnivlarly, the slide-plates are provided with, stop-pins 153; i for engagingthe intermediate link when the links; 7

150, 151, and slide-plates 145 arebriought into the relative angularposition shown in Figure 7. In this latter,

position, the links 150, 151, the slide-plates 141 21131 breech-bolt 81will slide rearwardly as a unitto the} rearwardmost position shown inFigure 17.

' Theslide-plates' 145 areprovided upon their inner faces with inwardlyprojecting co-axial pins 1-54 for engaging; and tripping the finger 77duringthe course'of rearward travel of the slide-plates 145, as shown inFigure 26. Finally, the slide-plates 145 are also provided upon their,

inner faces with inwardly projecting pins 155 for rockably supportinggauge-plates 156 which extend angularly,

downwardly in the position shown in Figure 31 and at their lower endsare provided with outwardly projecting studs 157, which, in turn, extendthrough arcuate slots 158 formed in the slide-plates 145. At their outerends Rockably mounted at the lower end of each gaugeplate 156 andextending facewise upwardly therealong,

as shown in Figure 31, is a cumming bar 160 for actuating engagementwith the pins 57, 58,1 of the powder-J The camming-bars 160 are held" Ifeeding piston 43. 7 against forward swinging relative movement by pins161 set into the gauge-plates 156, and arefbiased into contacttherewithby leaf-springs 162; [As will be seen by I reference to Figures7 and 8, the camming-bars 160 .Will ride against the pins 57, 58,forcing the gate 51 down wardly. As will be seenby reference toFigure30, the spring t is heavier than thespring 63 and will normally hold thelatter compressed underthe finger 62. Thus,

the gate 51. and piston 48 will maintain the relative positions'shown inFigure 30 and the downward movement of the gate 51 will be transmittedthrough the finger 62 and compressed spring '63 to the piston 48.

Consequently, the gate, 51and piston 48 will momentarily come to rest inthe position shown in Figure 30' and a charge of powder will be pushedfrom the powder magazine 40 by the piston 43 into the powder-feedingcylinder 145 continue to move to rearwardmost position, the cam-'ming-bars 160 will also move backwardly, thereupon riding past the saidpins 57, 58, permitting them and the elements associated therewith toreturn to initial posi This movement allows the gate 51 to snap up tion.toinitial position under the force of the spring 63 transmitted throughthe tongue 62, cutting off the powder intake from the magazine 40, butthe powder charge mo mentarily holds the piston 48 back until the bolt81 t 3 reaches fully retracted position, at which moment the piston 48propels the powder charge into the chamber 12. As theslide-plates 145subsequently return forwardly to initial position, as shown in Figure 4,the upwardly and forwardlypresented faces of the cumming-bars 160 willstrike against the pins 57, 58, and be swung rearwardly against the biasof the leaf-springs 162, thereby clearing andpassing under the pins57,'58. Similarly, the pins 7 154 will clear and pass under the. finger 7.i The lock-bar 148 is provided in its sem'i-circnlarface with recessesv33' for snug-fitting engagement with the forward ends ofthe lockingrods 33, as best seen 'in Figure i i shown in Figure 4 and preventingmanipulation 'of the fore-end 7 and movement of the slide-plates 145until the gun A has been fired. The hammer 97 and other internalelements of the breech-bolt 81 are in position, as shown in Figure 14,when thegun A is cooked and ready to fire.

Mounted at their rear ends upon the breech-bolt studs 143 and heldinwardly by means of the washers 144 are leaf-spring closure-blades 164adapted to cover forward portion of the slots 25 when the bolt 81 isretracted, thereby preventing loose powder from spilling outaccidentally. The closure-blades '164 are slidably supported withinU-shaped elements 165 formed integrally upon the chamber portion 4 forholding the closure-blades 164 snugly against the side faces thereof.

Assuming that the chamber 12 is filled with a charge of powder, a bulletB is in firing position and the breech bolt 81 is in fully cockedposition as shownin Figure 14, the gun A is fired by squeezing thetrigger 129, whereupon the trigger actuating rod 119 slides forwardcamming the sear 114 inwardly until its end face 115 is coincident withthe interior face of the breech-bolt chamber 93. Thereupon, the spring105 throws the hammer 97 forward against the head 91 of the firing pin89, which, in turn, is driven sharply forward against the detonating cap35 of the bullet B, exploding the powder charge in the chamber 12 andpropelling thebullet B out through the muzzle of the gun A. During thismove ment, the compressor 103 is held stationary with respect to thebreech bolt81 by engagement of the latch-dogs 107 in the detent notches96, as shown in Figure 14, and the hammer will have moved from theposition shown in Figure 14 all the way forward and will have come torest against the button-like head 91 of the firing pin 89, which will,in turn, have come to rest in its forwardmost position. In thisposition, the spring 105 is fully relaxed.

As the hammer 97 shifts forwardly, it pulls the bolt pin 100 forwardlycompressing the spring 110, and as the hammer 97 reaches its forwardmostposition just after the moment of firing, the collar 101 strikes againstthe abutment surfaces 109 of the latch-dogs 107, releasing them. Thestored energy in the spring 110 thereupon pullsthe bolt pin 100rearwardly, pulling the compressor 103 and h hammer 97to be returned asa unit through the posi-' tion shown in Figure 15 to the position shownin Figure 16.. Since the spring 105 is now relaxed, it will notinterfere with this return movement. The rear end 102 of thebolt-pinwill strike against the cross-bar 136 moving the latterbackwardly from the position shown in Figure 15 to the position shown inFigure 16, since the spring 110 is much stronger than the spring 140.This movement will shift the locking rods 33 rearwardly out of the drillholes 33, unlocking the lock-bar 148.

The fore-end 7 canthen be shifted rearwardly to the position shown inFigures 9 and 17 and in so doing the bullet retention pin 73 is trippedand thepiston 48 and gate 51 are actuated, whereby a bullet is takenfrom the magazine 66 and a powder charge from thepowder feeding cylinder45. As has been previously pointed out, the pins 154 trip and pass underthe finger 77, so that the spring 74 can return the retention pin 73 toinitial position immediately after theuppermost bullet in the magazine66 has been shifted up into the chamber 12. Thus, only one bullet at atime can be fed out of the magazine 66. As the breech-bolt 81 moves intorearward position, the cooking lug 95, engages the compressor 103 andholds it stationary while the rest of the action moves rea'rwardly. Assoon as the sear 114 moves into line with the aperturefin which it isnormally;

The fore-end '7 isthen returned to initial position carry- 31. In thisposition, the cross-bar 136 is releasedso that the locking rods 33 willreturn. forwardly to locking position. As the fore-end '7 returns tosuch initial position,- it will kick the forward ends of the lockingrods 33 back momentarily until fully seated, whereupon the locking rods33 will shift forwardly again to locked position in the recesses 33'.

By adjusting the gauge-plate 156 up and down, the degree of slidingmovement of the piston 48 and gate 51 can be varied to vary the size ofthe powder charge injected into the magazine 40. i l

It should be understood that changes and modifications in the form,construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts of thefirearms may be made and substituted for those herein shown anddescribed without departing from the nature and principle of myinvention.

Having-thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is:

1. A gun adapted for firing a cartridge-less projectile having adetonating cap in its base, said gun comprising a chamber, a barrelextending forwardly from the chamber and having a rifled bore throughoutits length except for a section-adjacent to the chamber, said barrelbeing diametrally enlarged and smooth-surfaced in said section toprovide a projectile-engaging throat into which the projectile may besnugly seated prior to firing, an. annular seat in said chamber locatedrearwardly of the. throat, the distance between the throat and the seatbeingv sufiicient to provide space for receiving a powder charge, a boltslidably mounted at the rear end of and in axial alignment with thechamber and having an annular shoulder for engagement against the seat,actuating means. for shifting the bolt to-and-fro into and out of seatedposition, a projectile magazine located below the cham-- 'ber andrearwardly of the throat in downwardly and chamber and rearwardly of theprojectile magazine in parallel relation to the chamber, apowder-feeding cylinder mounted at the rear of and parallel to: theprojectile magazine, said cylinder being in communication at its upperend with the powder magazine, a spring-biased piston in the powdermagazine for injecting a charge of powder from the powder magazine intothe powderfeeding cylinder, and piston-like means in the powderfeedingcylinder for introducing said charge of'powder into the chamber.

2. A gun adapted for firing a cartridge-less projectile having adetonating cap in its base, said gun comprising a chamber, a barrelextending forwardly from the chamber and having a rifled bore throughoutits length except for a section adjacent to the chambensaid barrel beingdiametrally enlarged and smooth-surfaced in said section to provide aprojectile-engaging throat into which the projectile may he snuglyseated prior to firing, an annular seat in said chamber locatedrearwardly of the throat, the distance between the throat and the seatbeing sufficient to provide space for receiving a powder charge, a boltslidably mounted at the rear end of and in axial alignment with thechamber and having an annular shoulder for engagement against the seat,actuating means for shifting the bolt to-and-fro into and out of seatedposition, a projectile magazine, spring-biased said last-named meansbeing located below-the chamber and-projecting externally of theprojectile magazine i 111 or r as ng a d th e y means'to inject a singleprojectile at a time from the projectile 'magazi'ne' into the chamber,means on the forward end of the bolt for seating said projectile in saidthroat, a powder magazine located below the chamber and rcarwardly ofthe projectile magazine in parallel relation to the chamber, apowder-feeding cylinder mounted at the rear of and parallel to theprojectile magazine, said cylinder being in communication at its upperend with the powder magazine, a spring-biased piston in the powdermagazine for injecting a charge of powder from the powder magazine, andpiston-like means in the powderfeeding cylinder operable responsive tomovement of the'actuating means as the bolt is retracted from seatedposition for introducing said charge of powder into the chamber.

3. A gun adapted for firing a cartridgedess projectile having adetonating cap in its base, said gun comprising a chamber, a barrel;extending forwardly from the chamber and having a rifledbore throughoutits length except for a section adjacent to the chamber, said barrelbeing diametrally enlarged and smooth-surfaced in said section toprovide a projectile-engaging throat into which the projectile may besnugly seated prior to firing,'an annular seat in said chamber locatedrearwardly of the throat, the distance between the throat and the seatbeing sufficient to provide space for receiving a powder charge, a boltslidably mounted at the rear end of and in axial alignment with thechamber and having an annular shoulder for engagement against the seat,actuating means for shifting the bolt to-and-fro into and out of seatedposition, a projectile magazine located below the chamber and rearwardlyof the throat in downwardly projecting relation thereto, spring-biasedmeans in said projectile flmagazine, means associated withtheiprojectile magazine and operated by the actuating means as the boltis retracted from seated position, said last-named means being locatedbelow the chamber and projecting externally of the projectile magazinefor releasing and thereby permitting the spring-biased means to inject asingle projectile at a time from the projectile magazine into thechamber, means on, the" forward end of the bolt for seating saidprojectile in said throat, a powder magazine located below the chamberand rearwardly of the projectile maga zinc in parallel relation to thechamber, a powder-feed= ing cylinder mounted at the rear of and parallelto the tion at its upper end with the powder magazine, a springbiasedpiston in the powder magazine for injecting a' charge of powder from thepowder magazine, and pistonlike means in the powder-feeding cylinderoperable responsive to movement of the actuating means as the bolt isretracted from seated position for introducing said charge of powderinto the chamber.

, 4. A gun adapted for firing a cartridge-less projectile having adetonating cap in its base, said gun comprising ificient to providespace for receiving a powder charge, 7 a bolt slidably mounted at therear end of and in axial alignment with the chamber and havingarr-annular shoulder for engagement against the seat, actuating meansfor shifting the bolt to-and-fro into and out of' seated position, aprojectile magazine located below the chamber and rearwardly of thethroat indownwardly and angularp rmi in h springrbiase projectilemagazine, said cylinder being'in communicai 1y projecting relationthereto, spring-biased meausin the j,

projectile magazine fpr injecting a single projectile at; time from theprojectile magazine iiitoTtlie chamb'er;'

means on theforward end of the bolt for seating the projectilemagazine,said cylinder-being" in "communica- 7 tion at its upper'end with thepowder magazine,'a spring-j biased piston in the powder magazine, meansoperable" responsive to movement ofthe actuating meansfor inject-3 ing acharge of powder from the powdermagazine, and piston-like means in thepowder-feeding cylinder operable responsive to movement of the actuatingmeans as the bolt is retracted from seated position for introducing saidcharge of powder into the chamber.

5. A gun adapted for firing a cartridge-less projectile havingadetonating cap in its base,'said gun comprising a chamber, a barrelextending forwardly from the chamber and having a rifled bore throughoutits length except for a section adjacent. to the chamber, saidbarrelbeing diametrally enlarged and smooth-surfaced in said section toprovide aprojectile-engaging throat into which the pro-' jectile may besnugly seated prior to firing, an annular seat in said chamber locatedrearwardly of the throat,

the distance between the throat and the seat being sufficient' toprovide space for'receiving a powder charge,

a bolt slidably mounted at the rear end of and in axial alignment withthe chamber and having an annular shoul: der for engagement againstthe'seat, actuating means for shifting the bolt to-and-fro into and outof seated position,a projectile magazine'spring-biased means in saidprojectile magazine,- meansassociated with the pro jectile magazine andoperated by theactuating means as the bolt is retracted from seatedposition, said lastnamed means being located below the chamber andprojecting externally of the projectile magazine for releasing andthereby permitting the spring-biased means to inject a single projectileat a time from the projectile magazine into the chamber, means on theforward end; of the bolt for seating said projectile in said throat, apowder magazine located below the chamber and rearwardly of theprojectile magazine, in parallel relation to f the chamber, apowder-feeding cylinder mounted at the rear of and parallel to theprojectile magazine, said cylinder being in communication at its upperendwith the powder magazine, a spring-biased piston in the powdermagazine for injectinga charge of powder from the powdermagazine'piston-like means inthe'powder-feed ing cylinder-operableresponsive to movement of the" actuating means asithe bolt is'retrac'tedfrom seated position for introducingsaid charge of powder into thechamber, and a locking pin for engaging the actuating means as thelatter is returned to initial position for preventingfurther movementthereof until the gun has I been fired. Y

6. A gun adapted for firing a cartridge-less projectile havingadetonating cap in its base, said gun'comprising a chamber,a barrelextending forwardly from the chamber and having a rifled bore throughoutits length except for a section adjacent to the chamber, said barrelbeing diametrally enlarged and smooth-surfaced in said sectionto providea projectile-engagingthroat into which the projectile may be snuglyseated prior to firing, an annular seatin said chamber locatedrearwardly of the throat,

the distance between the throatand the seat being sufficient to providespace for receiving a powder charge, a hollow bolt slidablymountedat therear end of and in axial alignment with the-chamber and having anannnlarsholder for engagement against the seat, aetuating means for shiftingthe bolt to-and-fro into ;andout of seated position, aprojectilemagazinelocated belowt'ne cham; ber, springfbiased means in'said projectile fmagazine, f

means associ-ated with the projectilemagazineand operated by the acating means as the bolt'is retracted from W seated; position,saidlast-riarn ed means being located be- 19W th hamb r nd pr ie nsxternally t l Pro ectile mag ajzineforf'releasing and therebypermitting' the; V

spring-biased means to inject a single projectile at a time from theprojectile magazine into the chamber, means on the forward end of thebolt for seating said projectile in said throat, a powder magazinelocated below the chamber and rearwardly of the projectile magazine inparallel relation to the chamber, a powder-feeding cylinder mounted atthe rear of and parallel to the projectile magazine, said cylinder beingin communication at its upper end with the powder magazine, aspring-biased piston in the powder magazine actuated by the actuatingmeans as the bolt is retracted from seated position for injecting acharge of powder from the powder magazine into the powder-feedingcylinder, and piston-like means in the powder-feeding cylinder forintroducing said charge of power into chamber.

7. A gun adapted for firing a cartridge-less projectile having adetonating cap in its base, said gun comprising a chamber, a barrelextending forwardly from the chamber and having a rifled bore throughoutits length except for a section adjacent to the chamber, said barrelbeing diametrally enlarged and smooth-surfaced in said section toprovide a projectile-engaging throat into which the projectile may besnugly seated prior to firing, a breech portion extending rearwardlyfrom the chamber and having side walls provided with opposed parallelslots, a bolt slidably mounted in the chamber and breech portion forlongitudinally shiftable movement therein, said bolt having laterallyprojecting bosses slidably mounted in and extending through the slots, afore-end operatively mounted on the barrel for forward and rearwardsliding movement, actuating links pivotally connected at their forwardends to the fore-end, intermediate links pivotally connected at theirforward ends to theactuating links, a pair of slide plates pivotallyconnected at their rear ends respectively to said bosses and at theirforward ends to the rear end of the intermediate links, camming barmeans operatively mounted on the actuating links for locking engagementwith the barrel when the fore end is in forwardly shifted position,means operable responsive to forward movement of the fore-end forseating a projectile in said throat, and means operable responsive torearward movement of the fore-end for introducing a charge of powderinto the chamber.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 30,760Reeder Nov. 27, 1860 941,662 Smith Nov. 30, 1909 2,121,796 Helbich June28, 1938 2,341,260 Barnes Feb. 8, 1944 2,356,491 Loomis Aug. 22, 19442,618,877 Mackta Nov. 25, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OPFICE Patent No2,841,906 July 8, 1958 Edwin H, Michelsen It is hereby certified thaterror appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and thatthe said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

In the grant, lines 1 and 12, name of inventor, for "Edwin H,Michelson", each occurrence, read Edwin E. Michelsen in the heading tothe drawings, Sheets 1 to 6, line 1, for "E, R0 Michelson", eachoccurrence, read E. R, Michelsen at the bottom of the drawings, Sheets 1to 6, and in the heading to the printed specification, line 4, for"Edwin R. Michelson, each occurrence, read Edwin H. Michelsen Signed andsealed this 18th day of November 1958,

(SEAL) Attest:

KARL Id.a AXLINE Attesting Officer ROBERT C. WATSON Commissioner ofPatents UNITED STAKES PATENT OFFUZE EERWFECATE @F RRECTN Patent No,2,841,906 July 8, 1958 Edwin R, Michelsen It is hereby certified thaterror appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and thatthe said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

In the grant, lines 1 and 12, name of inventor, for "Edwin R,Michelson", each occurrence, read me Edwin E, Michelsen in the head ingto the drawings, Sheets 1 to 6, line 1, for "E, R. Michelson", eachoccurrence, read w E, R0 Michelsen at the bottom. of the drawings,Sheets 1 to 6, and in the heading to the printed specification, line 4,for "Edwin E, Michelson, each occurrence, read u Edwin R, Michelsen ySigned and sealed this 18th day of November 1958,.

(SEAL) Attest:

KARL H, AXLINE ROBERT C WATSON Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents

